Crocodile hunting

We were ready to go crocodile hunting again and fearlessly boarded a Daintree Connection nature cruise to glide among the mangroves and ancient rainforests and look trouble in the jaws.

Our guide was soon locating photo opportunities for us while cheeky little swallows flitted round our boat. His more practised eyes were definitely sharper than ours and he soon had us in against the bank looking at a frog on a root and snakes draped along overhanging branches.

A cattle skeleton lay on a sandy beach to one side. The crocs had got it and made a lingering meal of it over several days, apparently. We nosed into the greenery to take a closer look at flowers and the occasional bird happily posed for us. The 90-minute cruise was an excellent learning experience.

At last we found what we'd come looking for - first there were a couple of juvenile crocodiles. Nothing to strike fear in the heart - well not while we were safe in the boat.

And then we found The Big One. I wasn't going to hop over the side with a tape measure but I am guessing about 3 metres long. I was happy to leave him/her in peace. But I noticed a beast grazing just a few feet above the croc (under red arrow) and he didn't seem to be in a panic to move.

I started thinking crocodile skin shoes and matching handbag but I don't think our guide was prepared to help me out there. Probably a law against it anyway.

Crocodile is found on the menu quite frequently but they are specially farmed for the dinner table.

We continued with our river cruise for another 30 minutes. It was quite peaceful just chugging along enjoying the scenery and watching the antics of the little swallows. Mission accomplished and we hadn't become crocodile fodder either.

I do enjoy a tapas meal so that night we went to La Cucina and shared a well-stocked tapas platter. This is two restaurants in one with a shared bar in the middle and guests can choose the more formal or the casual tapas and pizza side.

Next – we skim over the rainforest suspended by slender cables >>